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Kuwait Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait, Lebanon enjoy deeply rooted and multifaceted ties
Amir welcomes Lebanese President KUWAIT: Relations between Kuwait and Lebanon are deeply rooted and span decades of political, economic, and humanitarian cooperation. From early diplomatic outreach to enduring mutual support during times of crisis, the two Arab nations have cultivated a partnership built on shared values and regional solidarity. Historical ties date back to the 1920s and 1940s, with formal diplomatic engagements beginning in the 1960s. Lebanon appointed a non-resident ambassador to Kuwait in December 1962, later inaugurating its embassy in 1964. In the same year, Kuwait opened its own embassy in Beirut, appointing Mohammad Al-Ghanim as its first ambassador to oversee bilateral relations. Lebanon's firm stance against the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait remains a pivotal moment in the countries' relationship. Beirut unequivocally condemned the aggression and called for the immediate withdrawal of Iraqi forces. Years earlier, Kuwait had expressed similar solidarity with Lebanon during its civil war, playing a prominent role in mediating peace efforts. In 1988, Kuwait led a six-member Arab League committee, laying the groundwork for the Taif Agreement, which ultimately ended the conflict. High-level visits further underscore the strength of ties. In August 1993, the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah became the first GCC leader to visit Lebanon since the outbreak of the civil war in 1975. His visit symbolized Kuwait's appreciation for Lebanon's support during the invasion. In 1996, then-Crown Prince Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah reaffirmed those sentiments during his official visit. Amir welcomes Lebanese President KUWAIT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and his accompanying delegation arrived in Kuwait on Monday afternoon on an official visit. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah were at the airport to receive the President. Aoun was also received by Chief of the National Guard Sheikh Mubarak Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sharida Abdullah Al-Maousherji, Acting Minister of Defense and Interior Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya and senior state officials. The president is accompanied by an official delegation that includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Youssef Raji and a number of senior officials in the government of the sisterly Lebanese Republic. In May 2010, the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited Lebanon, during which six cooperation agreements were signed across multiple sectors. Lebanese President Michel Aoun's 2018 visit to Kuwait further highlighted the sustained diplomatic engagement between the two countries, with discussions held alongside His Highness the Amir and other senior officials. Economic cooperation has also been a defining feature of Kuwaiti-Lebanese relations. A number of agreements have been signed over the decades to bolster trade and investment. In 2018, the Kuwaiti-Lebanese Economic Committee and the Lebanese Business Council in Kuwait were established to enhance private sector collaboration, hosting numerous investors and entrepreneurs from both countries. The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) has played a vital role in Lebanon's development, extending financial support for agricultural and infrastructure projects. Kuwait's assistance was also evident during international donor gatherings, including the 2018 CEDRE conference in Paris, where it pledged $500 million to aid Lebanon's economic recovery. That same year, Kuwait reaffirmed its backing of Lebanon's security forces during the Rome II conference. Kuwait's humanitarian support has been consistent and swift in times of crisis. During the 2006 Zionist aggression, Kuwait extended aid to the Lebanese people. It also responded promptly to the 2020 Beirut Port explosion and has continuously supported Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon. Most recently, in November 2024, Kuwait launched an air bridge to deliver urgent humanitarian aid amid Zionist intensified military campaign against Lebanon. In the healthcare sector, the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) provided over $500,000 in May 2021 to support Lebanon's COVID-19 vaccination efforts for both citizens and refugee communities. While the depth of Kuwaiti-Lebanese ties could fill volumes, one constant remains: both nations continue to seek avenues to strengthen their partnership and stand by each other in pursuit of regional stability, prosperity, and mutual growth. — KUNA
Kuwait News Agency
11-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait News Agency
Kuwait, Lebanon.. Ties that bind on multifaceted levels
(Report) KUWAIT, May 11 (KUNA) -- When one mentions the relations between the State of Kuwait and the Lebanese Republic, they could visualize ties that bind the two peoples historically on multifaceted levels. The two Arab countries had solidified their ties since the 1920s and 40s and through a number of high-level meetings and visits, which began in the early 1960s when Lebanon established a non-resident embassy in Kuwait in December of 1962 and officially opened its embassy in 1964. Kuwait had opened its first embassy in 1962 and had its first Ambassador, Mohammad Al-Ghanim, supervise Kuwaiti diplomatic connections with the Lebanese government. Perhaps the true test of ties was in 1990 during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait when Lebanon took a firm stance against the heinous act, calling for an immediate withdrawal of the invading troops. Prior to that, Kuwait stood in solidarity with Lebanon during its darkest hours of the civil war, with the former country heading in 1988 a six-party Arab League Committee that paved the way for the national reconciliation document and the end of the war via the Taif agreement. On high state visits, in 1993, late Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited Lebanon on August 24, 1993, the first GCC leader to visit Lebanon since the civil war began there in 1975. This visit also displayed Kuwait's gratitude to the Lebanese people who stood in support of Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion. In 1996 also, the Crown Prince and later father Amir Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah visited to display similar sentiments. In May of 2010, late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah went to Lebanon on an official visit, signing six agreements to expand cooperation on various levels. In 2018, former President Michael Aoun came to Kuwait, holding talks with then Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and a number of Kuwaiti officials. Economically, Kuwait and Lebanon have distinct levels of relations, signing a variety of accords throughout the decades. In 2018, the Kuwaiti-Lebanese business personnel economic committee was established to promote business and commerce, and also the Lebanese business council in Kuwait was establish, hosting a number of key investors and businessmen. The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) contributed to the development of Lebanon, providing grants and loans to develop agriculture and infrastructural projects. Kuwait had also provided support to Lebanon through numerous conferences including the CEDRE conference to support the Lebanese economy, hosted in Paris in April 2018 in which Kuwait offered a grant of USD 500 million. Kuwait also displayed support to Lebanon militarily during the Rome 2 conference in March of 2018. Kuwait stood firm with Lebanon during the 2006 Israeli occupation's aggression in July of that year. It also sent urgent aid in 2000 when an explosion occurred in the Beirut Port, as well as providing assistance to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. More recently, in November 2024, Kuwait established an air bridge to provide humanitarian assistance to Lebanon as the Israeli occupation began a vicious campaign against the fellow Arab country. On the health sector level, Kuwait provided health assistance to Lebanon in May 2021 through the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), offering over USD 500,000 to provide COVID-19 vaccine to the Lebanese people and Syrian as well as Palestinian refugees. Talks about Kuwaiti-Lebanese solidarity might fill in volumes of books, but the fact remains that the two countries will seek all venues to boost ties and help each other excel in all measures. (end)
